It’s obvious that the efforts of the Democrats’ Battleground Texas are making some Republicans nervous. And that’s leading to some unforced errors that are creating some very bad publicity for the Texas GOP.

Unforced error

Take Texas GOP chairman Steve Munisteri‘s efforts to drum up support for “Battlefield Dallas,” an attempt by Dallas Republicans to counter the Battleground Texas push. Munisteri flew up to Dallas for an event and said all the right things during his speech.

It was billed of “the first public meeting of Battlefield Dallas.”

But a Tea Party Republican made the headlines when he had this to say about GOP voter outreach efforts.

“I’m going to be real honest with you, the Republican Party doesn’t want black people to vote if they’re going to vote 9-to-1 for Democrats,” Ken Emanuelson said.

Rep. Marc Veasey, a Democratic freshman whose district includes parts of Dallas County, shot back in an email sent today to Battleground Texas supporters.

Rep. Marc Veasey (Official photo)

“Together, we can turn this cowardly attack into the catalyst that makes our movement stronger,” said Veasey, who described himself as “disgusted” by the comments. “Battlefield Dallas and its tea party ilk have shown their true colors and now it’s time to hold them accountable.”

The Fort Worth Democrat also had a message for the Tea Party activist:

“Well, I am going to be real honest with you, Mr. Emanuelson – the Republican Party discounts communities of color at their own peril and attacks like these only serve to embolden us for the long road ahead.”

Battleground Texas was created earlier this year by veterans of President Obama’s political operation. Its goals include mobilizing Texas minorities to participate in the electoral process and to persuade Texans that the state Republican Party represents the extreme conservative fringe of American political discourse.

Dallas, previously a Republican bastion, has turned into one of the most strongly Democratic counties in the state as its diverse population has led to a Democratic resurgence over the past decade. President Obama’s victory margin in the county in 2012 was one of his largest in Texas.